Using Excel AutoComplete

Autocomplete

When you type the first few letter of an entry into a cell Excel can complete the entry automatically using an option known as AutoComplete.
It does this by building a list based on the date already entered in the current column.

How To Use AutoComplete

Step 1

Select the next blank cell in a column or select a previous entry in the column.

Step 2

Begin typing the entry. Excel will try to match what you type with other entries already entered in the current column.
To accept the proposed entry press Enter.
The completed entry exactly matches the pattern of uppercase and lowercase letters of the existing entry.or
Continue typing to enter your own entry.

Pick From A List

You can use AutoComplete to display a list of possible entries from previously date entered in the current column.

Step 1

Select the next blank cell in a column or select a previous entry in the column.

Step 2

Right click the mouse button in the selected cell.
Choose Pick from Drop-down list… from the displayed menu.

Step 3

Choose an entry from the list.

Keyboard Shortcut

The keyboard shortcut to display all unique entries from a list is ALT + DownArrow.

Step 1

Select the next blank cell in a column or select a previous entry in the column.

Step 2

Use the keyboard shortcut ALT + DownArrow to show list.

Step 3

Use the arrow keys to move through the list pressing Enter to confirm selection.
Excel can only AutoComplete column entries if there are no gaps in the column data.
Excel bases the list of potential AutoComplete entries on the column that contains the active cell.
Entries that are repeated within a row are not automatically completed.
Entries that contain only numbers, dates, or times are not automatically completed.

EXAMPLE

Disable AutoComplete

Step 1

Click the File tab, and then click Options.

Step 2

Click Advanced then under Editing options select or clear the Enable AutoComplete for cell values check box to turn automatic completion of cell values on or off.